Complete Pido Jarencio's Post-Game Statement After Game 1 of the UAAP Finals

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Coach Pido Jarencio of UST can be classified as one of the most outspoken coaches in modern-day college basketball, but we never saw or heard him be this disappointed, until how Game 1 of the UAAP Finals between his Tigers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles turned out (Ateneo won, 83-78). During the post-game press conference, he uttered these words:

“Ako diretsa ako makipagusap. Hindi naman patas yung tawagan. Sobra naman yun."

“Umakyat pa nga ako sa kanila. Sabi ko maging fair tayo sa mga decision natin."

“I’m not against Ateneo. Pero bakit ganun? Unfair naman sa min, dahil UST lang kami ganun ang tawagan? Sana ayusin nila. Kundi baka magkaroon ng people power dito."

“Sa akin, basta kami nag-e-enjoy lang kami. We enjoy the game. Ako positive ako sa team namin. Binigyan namin ng magandang laban ang Ateneo. Pero wag naman ganun. Sa atin lang, parehas naman tayo lumaban. Sana kung tinuturuan ko yung mga player na saktan mo ito. Saktan mo iyan, duraan mo ito, duraan mo iyan. Tayo fair and square ang laban natin. Yung mga players, kaya mahal ako niyan at kaya mahal ko rin sila, kung ano yung tinuro ko, yun ang nilalabas nila. Walang kalokohan. Walang bahid na pagdududa sa mga tinuturo ko. Kaya yung mga players ang puso buong buo."

“Kaso ayan na naman tayo. Let the players decide."

“Andun na iyun eh. Tinawagan rin si Karim ng mga fouls dun eh. Eh tuloy ‘di na nakaporma yung mga bata. Basta ako vino-voice out ko lang sa inyo. Never in my seven years na nag-co-coach ako sa UAAP na nagvoice out ako against the referees. Kaya lang bakit ganyan."

“Second coming. Tapos na nung elimination, may pangalawa na naman. Ganito na naman. Nakakasawa rin."

“Ang sinasabi ko, ‘Ok, tapusin natin ang laro. Eh tumawag kayo ng foul kay Teng eh, ‘di tatlong free throw yun, pa-free-throw-in niyo, kahit walang oras. Tapusin natin ng maayos lahat. Eh ba’t guilty sila? Ayaw nila tapusin."

“‘Coach, technical ka.’ Bakit eh nagwala ka may free throw pa. Paano mo ko i-technical eh wala nang oras? Titira na lang yung bata, si Teng. ‘Di pa nila binigay yun. Ako, bahala sila kung ano desisyon na ibibigay nila sa akin. Ako sinasabi ko lang yung totoo."

“Kailangan ba mag-e-English ako para paburan ako? Ganun ba labanan dito? Hindi totoo. Nasa Pilipinas tayo dapat tayong mga Pilipino mahalin niyang mga iyan."

“No, walang complaint. Basta ako umakyat ako, bumunot ako ng referee as sinabi ko sa kanila. Physical game ito Let the players decide the game not the referees."

“Ba’t hindi, eh nagpapakamatay yung mga bata. ‘Di ba lumamang pa kami ng isa. Lamang sila 10, ‘di kami bumitaw?"

“Ang ninipis ng tawag, ang kakapal ng mukha. Sana marinig lang din nila ako. Eh kasi naaawa ako sa mga estudyante babayad 250, pipila madaling araw. Ala una ng madaling araw nandyan na para mapanood lang kami. Mapanood Ateneo-UST game tapos gaganunin lang. De-deprive kami ng fair officiating. Bahala na sila. Ma-ko-konsensya din yang lintik na yun.”

Credits: InterAksyon.com

Jose Rizal the Athlete

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In line with the UAAP Finals between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UST Growling Tigers, I will share to you some things sports fans don't know about both the two universities' most prominent alumnus, our national hero Jose Rizal. Many describe him as an author, a doctor, a philanthropist, and a revolutionary. But only a few know, and they're not even true sports fanatics, that Rizal is one heck of a sportsman when he was still alive.

Living with his prominent friends in Europe, Rizal learned the game of fencing, at the time a sport for the rich. Oscar Lopez even got a picture of Rizal and Juan Luna of the Spolarium artwork fame playing one-on-one.

 

Rizal also learned its local counterpart, arnis. He was also a chess master. In fact, before Eugene Torre and Wesley So became too mainstream, Rizal was among the best Filipino players in the game. Because he was all around Europe, I can presume he knew the sport of soccer as well. If he was not gunned down in 1896, maybe we can find some unearthed articles about his rivalry with the pre-Azkals legend Paulino Alcantara (What if Rizal joined Real Madrid? Hey! It's the Clasico on Monday!).

Almost nobody knows as well that Rizal was a good gunslinger. In fact, you can find a specimen of one of Rizal's guns, the Smith & Wesson no.3 revolver, more popularly known as the Magnificent, at the AFP Museum at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. If you still doubt about it, read El Filibusterismo, especially the part where Simoun, aka Crisostomo Ibarra of Noli Me Tangere aka Jose Rizal's alter ego, showed his gun to Tales. Fili was written at the time Rizal's still learning in the game.

But what's so cool about Rizal is that he also learned the game of judo. Former Philippine Amateur Judo Association president Rey Jaylo, in an interview with Eddie Alinea of PhilBoxing.com, even said that Rizal was the first Southeast Asian ever to master the art of the Japanese sport. So just think if Rizal is alive to this date. He might give us an Olympic gold or even dominate the PXC and the UFC because he's also knowledgeable in boxing! He even put up gyms in the cities of Calamba and Dapitan, which became the start of various judo grassroots programs there. No wonder why you should not mess up with the people in these cities.

Tough luck that basketball came to the Philippines in 1905, nine years after Rizal's execution at Luneta. But assuming he wasn't gunned down, he would have brought the game here earlier and would have become one of the premier point guards then. Anyway, these only show that our national hero also loved sports. He valued the Filipinos' physical abilities as much as he valued nationalism. Truly, Jose Rizal is a sports legend.

Repeat or Revenge?

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It's Ateneo vs. UST once again in the UAAP Finals! The Blue Eagles and the Growling Tigers collide again in one of the biggest stages in college basketball. In the battle between a dominating force and the comeback kings, both the two squads prove their might in the UAAP.

History: This is their first meeting in the UAAP Finals since the dramatic 2006 Finals that saw one of the biggest upsets in UAAP Finals history as the unheralded Tigers featuring a rookie coach named Pido Jarencio and a bunch of nobodies stunned the heavily favored Eagles squad of Norman Black, JC Intal, and Doug Kramer.

What Now: Ateneo finished their elimination round campaign with a 12-2 card, but one of the two losses came against UST in the first round. UST, on the other hand, was the team of fight backs during the season, scoring come-from-behind victories almost all-season long. Both the Eagles and the Tigers wasted no time in setting up their Finals showdown by beating La Salle and NU respectively in the Final 4 right in Game 1.

Key Match-Up: Kiefer Ravena vs. Aljon Mariano-Both Ravena and Mariano have taken the role of go-to guys for the year. Ravena, despite slightly dipped numbers from last year, never failed to contribute for Ateneo, while Aljon Mariano, a cinch for the Most Improved Player Award, is UST's endgame warrior with his brilliant performance at the clutch.

Fearless Forecast: I think I made a mistake in saying that if there's one team that can beat Ateneo, that's La Salle. I almost forgot UST there. If UST continues to show brilliance on the court, they can spoil Norman Black's farewell. It could go a Game 3, depending on which Ateneo will show up on Saturday. Which team you got?

My Butch Maniego Story

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I was not able to meet Butch Maniego personally. Maybe seeing him doing his job as PBL and PBA D-League director, yes, but not in a manner in which I'll introduce myself to him. I was just surprised when I found out that he's a UP alumnus, all because of the Taga-UP Diliman Ka Kung group. But from a TV viewer's perspective, Butch is someone that you would love bringing the news to you.

The first time I saw Butch on TV was when he was still in the PBA broadcast during the 90's. I think he was just a courtside reporter then. I was just a kid then, so it's just like "Wala lang. I'll just watch our San Mig Coffee (then Purefoods) play." But comparing the young Maniego to today's UAAP and NCAA courtside reporters (when it was still with ABSCBN), I was like, "ABSCBN should have grabbed the NCAA and UAAP TV rights earlier. He's a perfect fit to be UP's courtside reporter." In fact, he could be assigned to any team. He's a genius in the game. I don't know if he played some basketball for the Fighting Maroons, but it seemed like he knows everything, from the players to the coaches and even to the playing system. WOW!

Speaking of ABSCBN, he would still land a spot with ABSCBN Sports. First, he became one of the first broadcasters of the MBA. That's where I began to follow him more. Now doing the play-by-play color commentating, I was like, "Hey! Butch Maniego can run the entire show by himself!" He researched everything about the two teams properly. He knew what to say. He can ad lib when the other anchor's mic is being fixed or if he's yet to return from the break. I could count Butch as a quintessential sportscaster.

After the MBA disbanded, Butch Maniego remained with ABSCBN Sports, calling the shots for the NCAA, but even if they place him at the UAAP, that would be fine. Hey! Why not cover both the two leagues? His good credentials as a Mr. Basketball landed him a directorial job at the PBL, which was the predecessor to the D-League, where he would also serve as tournament director. You would see from the games themselves that Butch is also doing a great job.

It's so sad that the sports media industry lost a legend. Butch Maniego brought to us what we need to know about the game of basketball. It's so sad that he needed to go. From the traditional media to the budding social sports media industries, they consider Butch as a "basketball geek", a mentor, and a friend. Thanks for inspiring us to write sports articles. Thanks for inspiring us to play basketball more passionately. See you up there!

Heads-Up Battle: Kaholeros vs. Ultras Filipinas

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In the Philippines, you usually hear the loud drumbeats and the louder noise of cheering squads in college basketball games, but in Europe, if you're hearing similar chants, you might be watching a live soccer match. That's something these two pep squads would want to infuse in our minds. With the rise to power of the Philippine Azkals in the international stage and the UFL to the pro soccer scene, don't be surprised if you will hear them shout it out loud to pep the players out. However, they have become the subjects of debates from not just the hardcore soccer fanatics but also by other sports geeks out there. The debate took the short cut to the boiling point during the Philippine Football Peace Cup won by the Azkals. So let's settle the score here.

Tale of the Tape

Name: Kaholeros

Age: I don't know

Height: I don't know

Weight: I don't know

Claim to Fame: The first Azkals Pep Squad

First up, the Kaholeros. They were formed soon after the Azkals' claim to fame, their impressive showing in the AFF Suzuki Cup featuring their 2-0 thrashing of Vietnam. They were everywhere during the games, especially when the national team plays at home. What's more cool about them: they also care for the environment. They bring in empty 5-gallon water bottles, putting water in some of them to create better sound effects, and use them as drums. You would usually see them at the non-roofed side of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Everyone now calls them the official Azkals pep squad...

Name: Ultras Filipinas

Age: I don't know

Height: I don't know

Weight: I don't know

Claim to Fame: The other Azkals Pep Squad

Wait! Who the heck are these guys with scarfs, louder voices, and a lot of swag? I don't know when the Ultras Filipinas really started, but the first time I saw them was during the FIFA Friendly battle between the Azkals and Indonesia. And these guys want to pep the crowd way before the kickoff. From the Torre Lorenzo along the intersection of Taft and Ocampo Avenues, the Ultras marched to the Rizal Memorial Football Field beating their lone drum and chanting their lungs out. Formed out of most members of the UFL pep squads of Kaya and Air Force and some from the other pep squads, They're one in boosting the Azkals' morale. Slowly but surely, they've become more noticed. Now, more people joined, even bringing along their own instruments, and the Ultras became wilder. Even Ebong Joson, the PFF official more popularly known as the blue-haired fan, liked Ultras a lot. What's so cool about them: Despite cheering too much for the Azkals, they still pay respect for the other teams. In fact, they even pepped the Taiwanese team during their Peace Cup game against, guess who, the Azkals!

Shakey's V-League Open Conference Semifinals Preview

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The 2012 Shakey's V-League Open Conference is nearing its conclusion, and four teams remain in the hunt for the Second Conference title. Defending champions Army will battle it out with three collegiate teams for the Open Tournament championship as the semifinals begin today.

(1)Sandugo-San Sebastian vs. (4)Ateneo

Before he leaves San Sebastian (for a while), Coach Roger Go-
rayeb will steer his Lady Stags, representing Sandugo Sandals,
to a Finals berth against his other team, Ateneo

It's mentor versus students in one Final 4 showdown as Ateneo Lady Eagles head coach Roger Gorayeb will take charge of his other team, the Sandugo-San Sebastian Lady Conquerors as they on no less than the Lady Eagles, coached  for the meantime by Parley Tupaz. In what could be the send-off of the Lady Conquerors, aka the Lady Stags, to Gorayeb, who will be serving the front-end of his two-year ban to coach Baste in the NCAA tournament starting this November, the top-seeds will give their all against the Lady Eagles, who did not field in an import so that their own preparations for the UAAP wars will become more intense. The key match-up here would be the battle of their respective captains, Joy Benito for Baste and Gretchen Ho for Ateneo. I have Sandugo-San Sebastian via sweep.

(2)Army vs. (3)Cagayan-UPHSD

It's champion vs. champion in the other semifinals
affair as defending champs Army take on the NCAA
champions Cagayan-Perpetual Help.

The other semifinal battle pits off the Cagayan-Perpetual Help Rising Suns and the star-studded Army Lady Troopers, the lone non-collegiate team in the semis. However, the Rising Suns, aka the Lady Altas, must remember that the Lady Troopers are the champions in this tournament, so Coach Mike Rafael must remind his girls to step up if they, the reigning NCAA champions, want to snatch a huge upset against Army. The key match-up here is the blockbuster showdown between Jheck-Jheck Dionela and Rachel Anne Daquis. I have Army in two as well.

2013 PBA Philippine Cup Schedule

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The 2013 PBA Season is about to unfold, and the schedule for the Philippine Cup has been unveiled. Mark your calendars, homies!

September 30 (Quezon City, MM)

6:00 PM-Ginebra vs. GlobalPort

October 3 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Air21 vs. Barako Bull

7:30 PM-Petron vs. Rain Or Shine

October 5 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Meralco vs. Talk 'n Text

7:30 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Alaska

October 7 (Quezon City, MM)
4:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. Air21

6:30 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. Ginebra

October 10 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Alaska vs. Meralco

7:30 PM-Barako Bull vs. Petron

October 12 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. GlobalPort

7:30 PM-Air21 vs. Rain Or Shine

October 13 (Digos City, DDS)

6:30 PM-Meralco vs. Ginebra

October 14 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-Barako Bull vs. Alaska

6:30 PM-Petron vs. San Mig Coffee

October 17 (TBA)

5:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. Meralco

7:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Air21

October 19 (TBA)

5:00 PM-Alaska vs. Petron

7:30 PM-Ginebra vs. Barako Bull

October 20 (TBA)

5:30 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. GlobalPort

8:00 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Talk 'n Text

October 21 (TBA)

4:00 PM-Air21 vs. Meralco

6:30 PM-Petron vs. Ginebra

October 24 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Barako Bull vs. Talk 'n Text

7:30 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. San Mig Coffee

October 26 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Alaska vs. Air21

7:30 PM-GlobalPort vs. Petron

October 27 (Victorias City, NOC)

6:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Rain Or Shine

October 28 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Barako Bull

6:30 PM-Ginebra vs. Alaska

October 31 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. San Mig Coffee

7:30 PM-Barako Bull vs. Meralco

November 2 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Petron vs. Air21

7:30 PM-Alaska vs. Talk 'n Text

November 4 (Quezon City, MM)

2:30 PM-Barako Bull vs. GlobalPort

5:00 PM-Meralco vs. Rain Or Shine

7:30 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Ginebra

November 7 (Quezon City, MM)
5:00 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. Alaska

7:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Petron

November 9 (TBA)

5:00 PM-Air21 vs. Barako Bull

7:30 PM-Ginebra vs. GlobalPort

November 10 (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu)

6:30 PM-Alaska vs. San Mig Coffee

November 11 (Pasay City, MM)

4:00 PM-Meralco vs. Petron

6:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Ginebra

November 14 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Air21 vs. Alaska

7:30 PM-Petron vs. Rain Or Shine

November 16 (TBA)

5:00 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Barako Bull

7:30 PM-Meralco vs. Talk 'n Text

November 17 (Tubod, LDN)

6:30 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. Air21

November 18 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. Petron

6:30 PM-Alaska vs. Ginebra

November 21 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Meralco vs. Rain Or Shine

7:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. San Mig Coffee

November 23 (TBA)

5:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. Meralco

7:30 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. Air21

November 24 (TBA)

6:30 PM-Petron vs. Barako Bull

November 25 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-Air21 vs. Talk 'n Text

6:30 PM-Ginebra vs. Rain Or Shine

November 28 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-Meralco vs. Alaska

7:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Petron

November 30 (TBA)

5:00 PM-Barako Bull vs. Meralco

7:30 PM-Air21 vs. Ginebra

December 1 (Dipolog City, ZDN)

6:30 PM-Alaska vs. GlobalPort

December 2 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-Ginebra vs. Barako Bull

6:30 PM-Rain Or Shine vs. San Mig Coffee

December 5 (Quezon City, MM)

5:00 PM-GlobalPort vs. Air21

7:30 PM-Petron vs. Alaska

December 7 (TBA)

5:00 PM-Barako Bull vs. Rain Or Shine

7:30 PM-San Mig Coffee vs. GlobalPort

December 9 (Quezon City, MM)

4:00 PM-Meralco vs. San Mig Coffee

6:30 PM-Talk 'n Text vs. Ginebra

Schedule is subject to change without prior notice. All games labeled TBA will be tentatively played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City except for the November 16, 23, 24, and 30 TBA games in which the doubleheader on the 16th, 23rd, and the 30th are tentatively scheduled at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and the venue for the lone game on the 24th is to be settled. The Petron-Barako Bull game could either be played in Puerto Princesa City or in Iloilo City. All games will be nationally televised on IBC 13 through its AKTV sports bloc.